Process for treating cellulose matter with terebene



Patented Sept. 24, 1946 ,mssa

FFlCE PROCESS FOR TREATING CELLULOSE MATTER WITH TEREBENE Christopher Luckhaupt, Jamaica, N. r, assignor to Luckite Processes, Inc., Deiawanna, N. .L, a corporation of New Jersey No Drawing. Application February 17, 1942, Serial No. 431,288

1' Claim. 1 This invention relates to the processing oi! porous cellulosic and like materials and to the resulting products.

One object of my invention is the provision of a process for treating porous cellulosic materials.

whereby the initial characteristics of the cellulosic material are very much enhanced. For instance, the tensile strength, flexural strength and compressional strength of cellulosic materials treated in accordance with this invention are tremendously increased.

The treating material may be used alone or in combination with other materials which for the sake of clarity will be referred to throughout this description as iortiiiers. 'l'heseioitiilers are employed when it is desired to further increase the natural characteristics of the porous cellulosic material being processed and/or when it i desired to impart other characteristics to the cellulosic material which initially may be entirely lacking in the material.

The material to be processed must be treated in a closed vessel, the treating material resinifying upon exposure to air and light. Processing may be practiced either by immersion or by roller coating, with the treating material at an elevated temperature.

More specifically the treating or base material I employ i terebene (CmHia), which is obtained from oil of turpentine and is practically a. colorless liquid, boiling at 160 to 172 0. (320 to 341.6" F.) Terebene is insoluble in water.

In practice, when using the terebene alone, that is, without fortifiers, the terebene is heated to below its boiling point, for example to between 220 F. and 310 F. While at this temperature in a closed vessel the material or articles to be processed are immersed therein. The period of immersion depends upon the degree of penetration desired and the porosity oi the cellulosic material being treated. Usually the immersion period is but a matter 01 seconds.

As above indicated, the cellulosic material may be treated with the terebene alone, but in some cases it is desired further to enhance certain properties of the cellulosic material or to impart additional properties or characteristics to the material being processed. It is under these conditions that the tortiflers are employed. The amount of fortiflers employed varies over a wide range, as much as from 2% to 75% by weight of the terebene, dependent upon the characteristics desired in the finished product.

Terebene is well suited to my purpose when employing fortifie'rs inasmuch as it is in the form 2 of a liquor, boiling at 320 to 341.6 F. and the temperatures I work at are from about 220 F. to 310 F., so that the fortiflers are readily combined with the terebene.

As abov noted, terebene is water insoluble and hence when used alone is capable of rendering the cellulosic material water-resistant to a degree, but where a higher degree of waterproofness is desired then I add fortifiers such as waxes and resins, natural and synthetic, stearates, vegetable oils, raw and blown, etc., to the hot terebene and process the cellulosic material with the resulting material. The quantity of fortifiers employed will depend, of course, upon the degree of waterproofncss desired, as above noted. I

Flame-proofing and fire-retarding characteristics may be imparted to the cellulosic material being processed in accordance with my invention by the addition of flame-proofing and fire-retarding fortifiers to the hot terebene. Examples of such iortifiers are aluminum acetate, ammonium acetate, cellulose acetate, tri-phenyl phosphate, etc. The tri-phenyl phosphate and the cellulose acetate also possess the ability to prevent oxidation of the processed cellulosic material, and to preserve its flexibility and elasticity, and to keep the treated cellulosic material from drying out and becoming brittle.

When oil-proofness is desired in the processed cellulosic material iortifiers such as cellulose acetate, glycero-phosphate, Vinsol (petroleum hydrocarbon insoluble pine wood resin) may be added to the heated terebene.

The addition of a fortifier such as the cellulose acetate above referred to will also materially increase the hardness and strength of the processed cellulosic material. Indene resin is another example of a hardening fonifier, while ethyl cellulose is an example of another iortifier for increasing the strength of the processed article.

' when an increase in adhesiveness is desired It may employ fortifiers such as linseed oil, rape seed oil, etc.

The resistance of the processed cellulosic material to rotting is increased by the addition of a fortlfier such as sodium fluoride, while the elasticity of the treated material is enhanced by the use of a fortifier such as vegetable oils.

It is to be understood, of course, that the fortifiers above referred to specifically are merely cited as examples and it is to be understood that the specific mention of these fortifiers is not to be interpreted as in any way limiting my invention to the use of those fortiflers specifically men- 12 1 32 1- 3 It is to be understood, also, that I may use only fortiilers of a particular group, or fortiflers from several groups may be employed, depending upon the characteristics desired in the finished product.

It will be understood also that in all cases the terebene alone or with one or more fortiflers is maintained at the relatively high temperature 220 F. to 310 F. during processing, and that processing is done in a closed vessel, preferably by immersion. The immersion period is short, say twenty seconds, but depends upon the degree of penetration desired, porosity of the cellulosic material being treated and the temperature of the treating material. Upon exposure to air after the cellulosic material has been processed, the processing material solidifies, so that the pores and interstices of the cellulosic material are filled with a solid material containing terebene or terebene and any of the fortifiers above referred to.

It is to be understood that in the practice of my invention it is not necessary in all cases to preform an article before processing. For example, in many cases it is practicable merely to make up the cellulosic material in sheet form, process it and then fabricate it.

My process is adaptable for use in connection with textiles formed of rayon and other synthetic cellulosic matter so as to render the same resistant to water absorption and highly resistant to combustion. By employing the proper fortifier such as some of those mentioned above the pliability of such a material can be preserved so as not detrimentally to affect the textile in this regard.

I have found that porous cellulosic materials treated as above outlined have the interstices at the surface of the material as well as the innor cells and voids of the material completely closed, and the surface of the treated product is smooth. If an external finish is desired it is merely necessary to sand the surface and then apply shellacs, varnishes, paints. etc.

I might say, furthermore, that when preformed articles are treated by my process as, for example, by immersion in a closed vessel in the heated terebene with or without fortiflers there seems to be no warping or shrinking of the article, the inward and outward contours of the article and all other dimensions remaining unchanged.

I find also that objects processed by my invention have no tendency to split, may be readily bored by any appropriate boring tool, readily sawed, cut or otherwise severed, readily planed, readily pierced by nails or screws and readily shaped by ordinary shaping tools, all without splitting and without surface checking. I find too in these instances that the severed edges are finished smooth and are free from irregular or jagged edges and free from loose fibers or fragments of the severed material. In fact, I find that the severed faces obtain a polished surface by the severing operation.

It is to be understood that my process may be varied from the above description without, however, departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

and 310 F.

CHRISTOPHER LUCKHAUPT. 

